Buckle



(NoModeL) W. 'LOONEY.

BUCKLE.

No. 541,488. Patented June 25, 1895;

m: Noam: PETERS ca. mofaumm. WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LOONEY, OF OXFORD, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES PICKERING, OF BENTON COUNTY, INDIANA.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters lfatent No. 541,488, dated June 25, 1895. Application filed February 21, 1895. Serial N0. 539,207. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LOONEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at OX- ford, in the county of Benton and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Buckles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improved har-' ness buckle. It consists of a fiat bottom-plate with two sides and a cross-plate at one end, and a lid. between the sides hinged or pivoted at the other end, this lid with the cross-plate forming a top, the whole forming a box with open ends, and the interior having spurs on the bottom plate and the lid to engage the harness, thus serving the purposes ofa buckle, as will be more particularly described.

In the drawings, to which reference is made as a part of the specification, the same letters refer to the same parts in the diEerent figures.

Figure 1 shows the buckle in perspective with the lid open without the side loops. Fig. 2 shows the buckle in plan, the lid closed, with band-loops extending outwardly ,from the sides. Fig. 3 is a sectional View showing how the harness-straps are passed through the buckle and engaged by the spurs. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the spring-bolt.

In the figures A. is the bottom-plate of the buckle; B. B. its sides with the upper edges curved.

E. E are projecting band-loops to receive harness straps from different directions when required; 0, the cross-bar at one end holding together the sides. I). b are the spurs rising from the inside of the bottom-plate to engage the harness strap, and d. a bar or projection along the under side of the crossplate to strengthen it, and also to press upon the strap.

All these parts are preferably integral. D. is the lid, thickened and rounded at its hinged end, and pivoted between the ends of the sides opposite ,to the cross-bar C.

h is the pivot on which the lid is hinged.

a is a spur on the under side of the lid at its pivoted end, and e. e are the flanges at the sides of the free end of the lid, shaped to fit down onto the curved side of the lower part and rounded outwardly for convenience in taking between the thumb and finger in opening and closing. In the thickened portion of the lid is inserted a bolt '5, the inner end of which is pressed by a spring j, operatlng it to engage the bolt-hole 70. thus locking the lid when closed. Fig. 4 shows this,

construction in sectional plan, at the line 00. m. of Fig. 2. The lid with its spur and flanges is in one piece. Both for ornament and to lighten the buckle, the central portions of the top and bottom plates are cut out into any desired pattern, as a circle, star, or other shape, as shown at g. andf.

F. F. are straps or parts of harness to which the buckle is applied.

This buckle being designed for use on harness of various kinds, and applied to various parts, will be made of any suitable metal, as iron, brass, nickel, silver, or plated; of any required size; and finished plain, -polished, or highly ornamented. It will buckle a single strap when the end is returned to make a loop; or two straps from opposite directions; and will receive others into its side-band-loops, which will be fastened by sewing, riveting, or buckles. It will be used for lines, backbands, hip-straps, and on other parts of harness to which it is adapted.

The method of using the buckle is obvious. The lid being opened, the ends of the bands or straps to be fastened are introduced to the point desired, and where the holes of the lower strap will engage the bottom spurs, and the hole of the upper strapwill be engaged by the spur on the lid, the lid is closed and the straps are buckled. The space within the box being adapted to the Width and thickness of the straps to be buckled it is manifest that the spurs will hold them in place as does the tongue in an ordinary buckle; and the spur of the lid being located under the hinged end the greater the pull of the strap within the strength of the material, the firmer will the lid be closed. To unbuckle, thestrain is re-' laxed, the lid raised, and the strap is released.

Having thus described my invention and its use, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a buckle for harness, the combination of an integral frame having a flat bottom plate and two sides joined at one end by a cross-plate, the free edges curved, and having two spurs, one near each end, arising from the inner surface of the bottom-plate; and of a lid having a spur on the under side of the pivoted end, this end thickened and rounded, and having therein a spring bolt engaging when closed a recess on the inner surface of one side of the frame, and having at the free end two flanges rounded outward and curved downward fitting upon the curved sides of the frame, the lid pivoted at the thickened end between and to the sides of the frame at the end opposite the cross-bar, as and for the purpose shown and described.

2. In a harness buckle, the combination of an integral frame having a flat bottom-plate and two sides joined at one end by a cross plate and with a band-loop outward on each side, the upper edgesof the sides curved, and

with two spurs arising from the inner surface of the bottom-plate, one, near each end; and of a lid having a springbolt recessed in this end engaging a recess on the inner surface of one side of the frame when closed, and havingat the other end twoflanges rounded outward and curved downward fitting upon the curved sides of the frame within the crossplate, this lid pivoted at the thickened end between and to the sides of the frame, as and for the purpose shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM LOONEY.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM M. McCoNNELL, JOSEPH CARTER. 

